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jk20a3

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  1. jk20a3

    Van Staal

    Yes they have been discontinued for a while now unfortunately, maybe even over a year. Even about 6 months ago it was almost impossible to find a NIB VSX200 in silver. Now you can pretty much only find 150s in black, and maybe some 250s at the usual big shops. (Not sure if VS produced wayy more black reels and 150s or people bought up all the silvers and 200s). Not sure how part availability is going to be but I dropped off a VS250 almost 3+ months ago at SWT for a new traverse guide and full service...only today did I get a call that it was ready for pick up.
  2. Everything is relative but if you're experiencing sealing issues with a VSB, which is basically sealed to the same extent if not better than the new X2 reels, no way a Daiwa MQ reel is going to stand up. The bottom gasket isn't the best fitted in the world and defiantly requires grease. The side handle has the typical removable light contact seal they put on the Certates, BG, Saltist, etc. It doesn't do very much and is pretty flimsy. The main shaft seal is again nothing to write home about, very light. This is all fine for boat use, docks, or standing high and dry on the beach away from any wash or dunks. But for how much you claim to go out, plus the VSB sealing failures I'd say stay far away. Plus unless you step up to Certate LT or an SW you're getting Zinc gears which will definitely corrode and pit faster than aluminum or the SS in your Van Staal. Shimano Spheros/Gosa/TP or even newer Penn reels would be superior strictly in terms of sealing and maintenance if you really want to get away from VS. (Just for reference I'm not anti-Daiwa at all, just comparing your failures with the VSB in the realm of sealing and maintenance/parts to that of the MQ...I use a BG MQ for sharks off the beach high and dry and a Certate SW when I get to go out on friends boats)
  3. jk20a3

    Visser reels

    There's literally video on youtube and instagram of Visser cutting gears here in their warehouse along with the bodies. The 1st gens were 100% made in China. Is the whole reel manufactured here? Packaging, etc? That I have no idea, of course the bearings, o-rings, etc are not made here...probably not even the self service tool. But they 100% have machinery working in the states now.
  4. Went out later last night to a certain SS beach (one Im sure everyone here has been). I couldn't believe my eyes, trucks double parked all the way down the beach like a summer day..... Most walking to a area to fish shoulder to shoulder right on top of one another. Not my thing so I walked the other way, had about 4 at exactly slot size within the 1st hour then it completely died. I swear everyone and their cousin took up surf fishing during Covid lockdown crap.
  5. I kinda agree with above, I've seen the internals of one IRT after all these years and it was a owner on this website. Besides looking like a fisher-price device IMO from the exterior, if I recall the interior looked like a newer Penn Spinfisher design. Aka nothing seemed to set it apart from any run of the mill reel for the money. Last time I checked they still don't have any pics, major details of the inner workings/materials on their website. There are alot of big "US made" or "Japanese made" to "Swedish made" buffs on here yet you rarely see anyone with a IRT...to me that says something as well. I think they are move into color customization and laser etching than really trying to be a innovator or high end fishing tool. No doubt a Saragosa would be leaps and bounds better than most of their offerings imo.
  6. jk20a3

    Visser reels

    Ged, I believe the switch was quite recent as in mid October. I first heard about it at the fishing show here on Longisland when Rob was showing off the limited editions he was putting out. I ordered a #7 direct from their site in "gunsmoke" about 4 weeks ago. Visser being Visser unless you watch the youtube/IG/Facebook clips from Rob no one would probably even know. I don't have my reel near me right now but this is what the internals now look like (from site/also matches my reel), the oscillation gear also has some kind of black friction coating like the mainshaft. No more bailess conversion included with bailed reels for some reason now as states as well.
  7. jk20a3

    Visser reels

    My first 2 Chinese reels were ok...but needed service right away for the usual issues you hear about. However the reels have changed alot since "launch". They now use a bronze main gear and SS pinion. Coated SS mainshaft, thicker rotor, and much better QC/hardware. I havent fished my new #7 enough to test the actual waterproofing improvements but so far no issues. These changes are pretty recent so unless you're buying direct from Visser you might not get all the new updates. New bailed reels also no longer come with the bailess kit, you can either buy the pier master rotor or the pier master itself which is just a beefier rotor with a Ti roller guide. Again I was no fan of Visser on original purchase, even bad mouthed them a few, but the new anodized reels with the improved internals are night and day and really feels like a quality reel. They are made here now btw, at least the important parts. (Basically there are about 3 iterations out there, the originals with the 2 side plate screws, aluminum mainshaft, VS style traverse slider, 2nd gen with 3 screws on the sideplate, roller bearings on the traverse guide, etc...and recently released 3rd gen with new gearset, recessed "RK" on sideplate, coated SS mainshaft, anodized colors, and round visser etched ball knob.
  8. This happens to me alot as well, it's either where I stand (close to the wash where the waves crash), the beaches I fish, or just poor technique lol. But this is where the older VSB, new X2, and rotors on the ZB shine. No more lockup from debris between the cupped flyer and spool. A few times I even got pebbles in between my VSX, dunks wouldn't help had to do the loosen the drag and lift the spool trick to clear. Not a huge x2 fan as stated but it definitely solves that problem.
  9. There's a thread on here where the poster did a complete "tackle advisors" type tear-down of one. I'm sure you can find it with a quick search for Penn Authority. I'd read the whole thing though as I believe he eventually had issues.
  10. Can still find shops with new Black 150 VSXs, it seems either ppl bought up most of the silver reels especially the 200s or VS made more of the black. I missed out on the deals when they had them. I think the biggest issue is going to be future parts, it seems VS/VSX spare parts are really drying up.
  11. Defiantly heavier (21.6 vs 24.1 oz in 200 size) , almost like a VSB 200 without the bail if you ever held one. Coming from a classic VS/VSX the hardest part will prob be getting used to the new pickup position. As far as problems I haven't fished mine enough to tell how they will hold up, they had a line rubbing issue im sure you heard about, their fix should be on all models by now. Biggest negatives I've heard is snapped handles, weight, and possibly not as tightly sealed. Positives, AR on pinion for better hooksets, rotor and spool design won't lock up in sandy wash, future parts availability, maybee casts slightly further but that was never really a issue for me.
  12. @The LongIsland angler Because "surf fishing" is a broad term. Of course most reels will be fine if you're away from the wash, not wading, constantly being careful to keep your reel up when unhooking fish. But the NE most "surf fishing" involves waders, dry tops, etc. Even if not wading our fine grindy sand gets everywhere when out front. Even night vs day can be a big difference, example I can fish my Certate SW 8K during a calm day in the sun and of course it will be fine as long as I'm careful and don't contaminate the mag oil with particles. However most my fishing occurs in the dark, getting hit by waves, cold, big trebles swinging around, etc. It's just 100x easier in those conditions to use a VS/ZB type reel. I can drop it on the sand when unhooking or needing two hands to rig, if you're lucky enough to get into multiple fish not worrying about your 1000+$ reel being out of commission for weeks and focus on a quick release and getting back out there. People aren't saying they enjoy using a Van Staal over other reels, not at all...but no way I can rinse my Certate or a Stella, etc in the crashing sand filled waves to clear the reel and expect it not to need an immediate service. That's just not reality, again would I rather fish it yes...but I also rather be fishing in Florida where multiple species can be caught on nice warm sunny days instead of dark nights, in cold weather, and rough surf lol. Alot of surf fishermen around the world can also catch Pelagics from shore, ex: Japan, Hawaii, Australia, NZ, but the terrain is different, they don't deal with as much sand, mostly rocks with sheer drop offs...but in the end are still technically "surf fishermen" which is why they can get away with big Stellas, Saltigas, Makairas and would have absolutely no need for a Van Staals short comings.
  13. While I'd take a Stella or Saltiga any day of the week for a boat trip, and anything made in Japan over China I don't think they are the end-all be-all of reels. Different tools for different applications. The Stella for instance seems to be downgraded in terms of quality with each generation since 2008, more plastic, cheaper gearsets, etc. Daiwa we all know the Z generation was virtually indestructible, some people even used them like a VS...but at the same time the next generation we all also know the paint bubbled off just looking at the reel. My beautiful expeditions looked like I took paint thinner to them after 2 boat trips. Then of course I won't even get into the mag oil debate. Don't get me wrong the Japanese reels are of course refined but disposable as well. A VS, Penn Torque, Zeebaas, can arguably be handed down a generation out of simplicity and less cast vs billet parts, while most Saltigas, Stellas, etc lose value very quickly and need to be serviced quite often. Again just different applications, but I agree there are no current US company(let alone US produced) Spinners that can match the drag and refinement of even a Saragosa or Certate SW which is quite disappointing. The Penn Authority was such a POS disappointment it made me lose all hope.
  14. The problem is the perception non-surf fishermen got from Van Staal once they became mainstream. People saw "ooo shiny expensive reel with fancy logo" and thought they could catch Tuna and the biggest pelagics with the reel. Not understanding the reel was a design as old as time just with modern materials and a patented sealed system for deep wading, skishing, or just fishing jettys and beaches without having to worry about opening your reel up every trip. The slow retrieve was on purpose for the targeted species and torque it put out. But people bought them not understanding the reel was fine for what it was made for, not knowing the internal workings like the anti reverse on the drive gear which again would hold up fine to most surf fish in the US....but in no way ment for heavy boat work as the retrieve again too slow, with the AR being where it was heavy cranking and lifting would put all the pressure on the gear teeth, and finally the sealing making it even harder to turn the handle. Then people got mad "VS is grindy slow junk". Van Staals advertising later on didn't help the problem, showing gold reels and hero photos with guys casting to Tuna from Contenders or guys fishing piers for sharks, etc. VS has an identity crisis, but so do alot of people who buy them not understanding its a tool for wet fishing, it was never ment to replace your Stella, Gosa, or Saltiga. (Obviously I'm referring to the cupped flyer reels such as the VS/VSX and not Van Staals shoot offs like the VSB, VM, VR, and new X2 series)
  15. Maybe a VM type model? But then again what would be the point of continuing the VSB. I will say I handled a new Visser with the SS pinion, coated SS main shaft, and bronze main gear in gun smoke color. The thing was night and day from my original Chinese model in terms of build quality. Very tempting.
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